In Indian religions and society, an acharya (IAST: ācārya; Sanskrit: आचार्य; Pali: acariya) is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men.^[1] The designation has different meanings in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and secular contexts.

Acharya is also used to address a teacher or a scholar in any discipline, e.g.: Bhaskaracharya, the mathematician. It is also a common suffix in brahmin (Vishwakarma) names, e.g.: Krishnamacharya, Bhattacharya. In South India, this suffix is sometimes shortened to Achar, e.g.: TKV Desikachar. Acharya is also used as surname. In the social order of some parts of India, acharyas are considered as the highest amongst the brahmin community, often described as the "shrestha brahman" i.e. best in brahmins. In Madhwa brahmins Acharya means a priestly person.

Etymology[link]

The term "Acharya" is most often said to include the root "char" or "charya" (conduct). Thus it literally connotes "one who teaches by conduct (example)," i.e. an exemplar.

In Hinduism[link]

In Hinduism, an acharya (आचार्य) is a mahāpuruśa (महापुरुश, divine personality) who is believed to have descended as an avatāra (अवतार, incarnation) to teach and establish bhakti in the world and write on the siddhānta (सिद्धांत, doctrine) of devotion to Bhagwan (भगवान्, lord, God, blessed one, see also iśvara).^[2]

Examples of acharyas in the Hindu tradition are:

• Adi Sankaracharya^[3]
• Ramanujacharya^[4]
• Madhvacharya^[5]
• Nimbarkacharya^[6]
• Vallabhacharya^[7]
• Caitanya Mahaprabhu^[8]
• Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada^[9]
• Acharya Shree Koshalendraprasadji Maharaj – (Swaminarayan Sampraday – NarNarayan Dev Gadi)
• Acharya Shree Rakeshprasadji Maharaj (Swaminarayan Sampradaya – LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi)
• Ammara shilpi Jakannacharya, ([[Sculpture(Vishwakarma Clan)])

In Jainism[link]

In Jainism, an Acharya is a monk who is one of the Pañca-Parameṣṭhi and thus worthy of worship. An Acharya is the highest leader of a Jain order. He is the final authority in his monastic order and has the authority to ordain new monks and nuns. He is also authorized to consecrate new idols, although this authority is sometimes delegated to scholars designated by him.

Some famous Jain Acharyas in approximate chronological order, are:

• Sudharma Swami
• Acharya Bhadrabahu (undivided Jain community, Chandragupta Maurya was his disciple) (325 BCE)
• Sthulabhadra (Svetambar tradition)
• Kundakunda, (Digambar tradition) (2nd century CE)
• Jaysen Acharya, (Digambar tradition) - wrote tika on Samaysaar - i.e. commentary on Samaysaar Shastra
• Amrutchandra Acharya, (Digambar tradition) - wrote Atmakhyati take on Samaysaar - i.e. commentary called Atmakhyati on Samaysaar Shastra.
• Samantabhadra, (Digambar tradition) (3rd–4th century CE)
• Siddhasena Divakara, (claimed by both) (5th century CE)
• Haribhadra,(Svetambar tradition), (700–750 CE)
• Virasena, (Digambar tradition), (790–825 CE)
• Jinasena, (Digambar tradition), preceptor of Rashtrakuta rulers, (800–880 CE).
• Nemichandra, (Digambar tradition)
• Acharya Hemachandra,(Svetambar tradition), preceptor of Kumarapala, (1089–1172 CE)
• Jagad guru Hiravijaya, (Svetambar tradition), who was invited by Akbar, the Mughal emperor
• Rajendrasuri (Svetambar tradition) (1827–1906)
• Shantisagar, (Digambar tradition) (1872–1955)
• Aryanandi, (Digambar tradition) (20th Century)

Modern Jain Acharyas include Digambara Acharya Vidyasagar and Vidyanand and Svetambara Padma Sagar Suri, Subodhsagar Suri, Yashodev Suri, and Jayantsain Suri. In the Svetambar Terapanthi sub-sect are Acharya Bhikshu, Acharya Tulsi and Acharya Mahapragya and in the Sthanakvasi sub-sect Sushil Kumar have been the leading Acharyas.

An Acharya, like any other Jain monk, is expected to wander except for the Chaturmas. Bhattarakas, who head institutions, are technically junior monks, and thus permitted to stay in the same place.

In Buddhism[link]

In Buddhism, the Pali variant acariya, lit. "teacher", is one of the two teachers of a novice monk, the other being the upādhyāya. In Mahayana traditions the epithet acharya was more widely used as an honorific indicating great scholastic renown; it was somewhat more general than the similar epithet paṇḍita. The Tibetan term loppön is used to translate acharya. The Japanese Shingon sects employ the acharya title with its qualified priests who have completed training at Mount Koya.

In scientific/ mathematical scholarship[link]

• Bhaskaracharya
• Mahaviracharya
• Bhaskaracharya I

Acharya (Degree)[link]

In Sanskrit institutions Acharya is a Post Graduate Degree.

See also[link]

• Prabhupada

References[link]

External links[link]

• Bhaktamar Stotra - Composed by Acharya Manatunga
• Scriptural References to 'acarya'
• Jain Monks, Statesmen and Aryikas Dr. K. C. Jain

D. M. Murdock, better known^[1][2] by her pen name Acharya S, is an American author and proponent of the Christ myth theory.^[3] She has authored six books and operates a website named Truth be Known. She argues that Christianity is founded on earlier myths and the characters depicted in Christianity are based upon Roman, Greek, Egyptian, and other myths.^[4]

Early life[link]

According to her website, Murdock received a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in Classics, Greek Civilization, from Franklin and Marshall College, after which, she spent a year at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Greece.^[5]

Career[link]

As a writer she publishes under the title of acharya, a term from Hinduism usually denoting the formal head of a monastery, sect, or subsect, or a teacher who initiates a disciple into a movement.^[6]

In 1999, as Acharya S. she published her first book, The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold, arguing the concept of Jesus Christ as myth. She states the Christ story is a fabrication.^[3] In 2001, Acharya S. wrote the Foreword to a new edition of Kersey Graves's The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviours: Christianity Before Christ.

A follow-up book, Suns of God: Krishna, Buddha and Christ Unveiled, was published in 2004. Acharya comments on the Hindu story of the life of Krishna, as well as the life of Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama). She claims parallels to the Christian stories of the life of Jesus as evidence that the story of Jesus was written based on existing stories, and not the life of a real man. Suns of God (with a foreword by author and theologian W. Sumner Davis) also seeks to address some of the criticisms leveled at Christ Conspiracy.^[7]

Acharya S. founded Seattle based Stellar House Publishing in 2005 through which she self-publishes a number of her books. According to the website, they claim to specialise in "Archaeology, History, Astrotheology, Mythology and Religion".^[8]

In 2005–06 she was one of fifty Fellows of The Council for Secular Humanism's Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion (CSER).^[9]

Her 2007 book, Who Was Jesus? Fingerprints of The Christ continues the theme of The Christ Conspiracy by expanding her theory questioning the historical validity of Jesus Christ alleging "early Christian history to be largely mythical, by sorting through available historical and archaeological data."^[10]

In 2009 she released Christ in Egypt: The Horus-Jesus Connection and The Gospel According to Acharya S.^[11] Her work was used extensively in part 1 of the original movie Zeitgeist. She also acted as consultant only for part 1 of the movie.^[12]

In her various books, Acharya describes the New Testament as a work of mythic fiction within a historical setting. She claims that the story of Jesus Christ is a retelling of various pagan myths, representing "astrotheology," or the story of the Sun, and also incorporates the science of archaeoastronomy. She asserts the pagans understood the stories to be myths, but Christians obliterated evidence to the contrary by destroying and controlling literature when they attained control of the Roman Empire, which led to widespread illiteracy in the ancient world, ensuring the mythical nature of Christ's story was hidden.^[13]

Acharya S. compares Jesus' history to other "Saviour gods" such as Mithra, Horus, Adonis, Krishna, Quetzalcoatl, and Odin, claiming the similarities result from a common source: the myth of the sun-god or solar deity.^[14]

Popular reception[link]

Acharya S.'s positions have received criticism by Christian apologists, notably Mike Licona^[15] and James Patrick Holding,^[16] to whom she published a rejoinder.^[17] She was also attacked by Joel McDurmon,^[18] as well as atheist activist and fellow Christ mythicist Richard Carrier.^[19] Acharya S likewise produced a rejoinder to Carrier's critique.^[20] Glenn Peoples critiqued ideas and claims found in Zeitgeist: The Movie which were largely influenced by Acharya S's writings as unscholarly and demonstrably historically inaccurate.^[21] Theologian Robert M. Price, who is sympathetic to the Christ myth hypothesis, wrote a critical review of Murdock's first book.^[22] He has, however, retracted it previously from his website, for reasons unknown currently. He has been supportive of her subsequent work, promoting Suns of God: Krishna, Buddha and Christ Unveiled in a recommended reading list^[23] along with promoting the same book in The Pre-Nicene New Testament: Fifty-Four Formative Texts,^[24] penning the foreword to Who Was Jesus: Fingerprints of the Christ and writing a positive review of Christ in Egypt.^[25] The Christ Conspiracy received a favourable review from author Earl Doherty.^[26]

Acharya S's presentation of Christianity as a "conspiracy" has drawn positive attention from other conspiracy theorists and critics of Christianity. In his book You Are Being Lied To, Russ Kick describes The Christ Conspiracy as "an essential book for anyone who wants to know the reality behind the world's dominant religion."^[27] In a book on American conspiracy theorists, Kenn Thomas calls her a "great chronicler of the conspiracy known as Christianity."^[28]

Acharya has been interviewed on a variety of radio stations,^[29] including the Alan Colmes Show. She also appears on less well known podcasts, such as Black Op Radio,^[30] and Coffee, Cigarettes and Gnosis.^[31] She has been interviewed in Paranoia magazine^[14] and by The Progressive Observer.^[32]

In his book In Search of Jesus, Baptist comparative religion scholar Clinton Bennett describes her views as being similar to those of radical freethinker Robert Taylor (nicknamed "the Devil's chaplain"), secularist MP and fellow Christ mythicist John M. Robertson, and American mythographer Joseph Campbell.^[33]

Publications[link]

• Murdock, D.M. (as Acharya S) (1999). The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold. Kempton, Illinois: Adventures Unlimited Press. ISBN 0-932813-74-7. 
• Murdock, D.M. (as Acharya S) (2004). Suns of God: Krishna, Buddha and Christ Unveiled. Kempton, Illinois: Adventures Unlimited Press. ISBN 1-931882-31-2. 
• Murdock, D.M. (2007). Who Was Jesus? Fingerprints of The Christ. Stellar House Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9799631-0-0. 
• Murdock, D.M. (2009). Christ in Egypt: The Horus-Jesus Connection. Stellar House Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9799631-1-7. 
• Murdock, D.M. (2009). The Gospel According to Acharya S. Stellar House Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9799631-2-4. 

See also[link]

• Bible conspiracy theory
• Christ myth theory
• Helena Blavatsky
• Historicity of Jesus
• Pseudohistory
• Zeitgeist: The Movie

References[link]

External links[link]

• Truth be Known Acharya S' web site
• Acharya S' blog
• Stellar House Publishing
• Free Thought Nation News site / blog by Acharya S
• Video interview with Acharya S on Conscious Media Network
• Documented Sources for Zeitgeist Part One
• Response to Richard Dawkins on Zeitgeist Part One
• Response to Richard Carrier on Zeitgeist Part One

Narendra Modi નરેન્દ્ર મોદી
Chief Minister of Gujarat
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 October 2001
Governor	Dr. Kamla Beniwal
Preceded by	Keshubhai Patel
Constituency	Maninagar
Personal details
Born	(1950-09-17) 17 September 1950 (age 61) Vadnagar, Gujarat, India
Political party	Bharatiya Janata Party
Residence	Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
Alma mater	Gujarat University[1]
Religion	Hinduism
Website	Narendra Modi
As of 9 March, 2009 Source: Government of Gujarat

Narendra Damodardas Modi (Gujarati: નરેન્દ્ર મોદી; born 17 September 1950^[1]) is the current Chief Minister of the Indian state of Gujarat. Born in a middle class family in Vadnagar, he was the third of six children born to Damodardas Mulchand Modi and his wife Heeraben.^[2] He has been a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since childhood also having interest in politics since adolescence. He holds a master's degree in political science. In 1998, he was chosen by L. K. Advani, the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to direct the election campaign in Gujarat as well as Himachal Pradesh.

He became Chief Minister of Gujarat in October 2001, promoted to the office at a time when his predecessor Keshubhai Patel had resigned, following the defeat of BJP in the by-elections. His tenure as chief minister of Gujarat began on 7 October 2001, and he is the longest serving Chief Minister of the state of Gujarat.^[3] In July 2007 he became the longest serving Chief Minister in Gujarat's history when he had been in power for 2063 days continuously.^[4] He was elected again for a third term^[5] on 23 December 2007 in the state elections, which he had cast as a "referendum on his rule".^[6][7]

Personal life[link]

Modi was born in a middle class family in Vadnagar in Mehsana district of what was then Bombay State, India.^[8] During the Indo-Pak war in the mid sixties, even as a young boy, he volunteered to serve the soldiers in transit at railway stations.^[9] As a young man, he joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, a student organisation and was involved in the anti-corruption Nav Nirmāṇ ("Reconstruction") Movement. After working as a full time organiser for the organisation, he was later nominated as its representative in the Bharatiya Janata Party.^[10] As a teenager Modi used to run a tea stall with his brother.^[11] Modi completed his schooling in Vadnagar. He earned a masters degree in political science from Gujarat University.^[12]

Early activism and politics[link]

Modi was a pracharak (campaigner) in the RSS during his university years.^[12][13] He took up the challenging task of energising the party cadres in right earnest. In partnership with Shankersinh Vaghela, Modi set about creating a strong cadre base in Gujarat. In the initial period, Vaghela was seen as a mass leader, while Modi was recognised as a master strategist.

The party started gaining political mileage and formed a coalition government at the centre in April 1990. This partnership fell apart within a few months, but the BJP came to power with a two-thirds majority on its own in Gujarat in 1995. During this period, Modi was entrusted with the responsibility of organising two crucial national events, the Somnath to Ayodhya Rath Yatra (a political rally through India on a converted Toyota van) of L.K. Advani and a similar march from Kanyakumari (the southernmost part of India) to Kashmir in the North. After the exit of Shankarsingh Vaghela from the BJP, Keshubhai Patel was made Chief Minister while Narendra Modi was sent to New Delhi as a General Secretary of the Party.

In 1995, Modi was appointed the National Secretary of the party and given the charge of five major states in India. In 1998, he was promoted as the General Secretary (Organization), a post he held until October 2001. In 2001, Narendra Modi was chosen by the party to be the Chief Minister of Gujarat after the removal of chief minister Keshubhai Patel.

Tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat[link]

Personality[link]

Modi is known for leading a frugal lifestyle. He has a personal staff of just three. He is known to be a workaholic Chief Minister and an introvert.^[14] He ordered the demolition of many Hindu temples that were built without proper government sanction which earned him the ire of VHP^[11] He is a crowd puller as a speaker. Modi has also tried to turn his image from an Hindu Nationalist politician to an image of able administrator. He wears business suits and is improving his command over the English language.^[15]

Awards and recognitions[link]

Modi was awarded Gujarat Ratna by Shri Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch on celebration of centenary year.^[16]

Development of Gujarat[link]

As a Chief Minister, Modi started various 'yojanas' or plans. This includes:

• Panchamrut Yojana,^[17][18][19] a five-pronged strategy for an integrated development of the state,
• Sujalam Sufalam, a scheme to create a grid of water resources in Gujarat in an innovative step towards water conservation and its appropriate utilisation.
• Krishi Mahotsav – agricultural research labs for the land
• Chiranjeevi Yojana – To reduce infant mortality rate
• Matru Vandana – Providing preventive and curative services under the Reproductive and Child Health Programme
• Beti Bachao – Campaign against female infanticide to improve sex ratio
• Jyotigram Yojana – Provide electricity to every village
• Karmayogi Abhiyan – To educate and train government employees
• Kanya Kelavani Yojana – To encourage female literacy and education
• Balbhog Yojana – Midday meal scheme for students to encourage school attendance from poor backgrounds.^[20]

Vibrant Gujarat[link]

Vibrant Gujarat is a biennial Global Investors' Summit held by the Government of Gujarat in Gujarat, India. The event is aimed at bringing together business leaders, investors, corporations, thought leaders, policy and opinion makers; the summit is advertised as a platform to understand and explore business opportunities in the State of Gujarat. the event has been held continuously since 2003.

Gujarat earthquake[link]

The biggest challenge which he had to face when he took over as the Chief Minister, was the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the areas affected by the massive Gujarat Earthquake of January 2001.

Gujarat violence[link]

On 27 February 2002, a train was burned by a Muslim mob in the town of Godhra leading to 59 deaths, most of them Hindu pilgrims and activists returning from the holy city of Ayodhya.^[21] Riots broke out in the state after it was suspected to be caused by Muslims, leading to 1180 deaths, many of them Muslims. Modi administration was accused of inaction over the riots and for encouraging them.^[15] As an aftermath of the riots, there were calls for Modi to resign from his position as chief minister of Gujarat. The opposition parties stalled the national parliament over the issue. Even Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP), allies of the BJP, asked for Modi's resignation.^[22][23] Modi submitted his resignation to the Governor and recommended the dissolution of the 10th Gujarat Legislative Assembly.^[24][25] In the following state re-elections the BJP, led by Modi, won 127 seats in the 182-member assembly.

In April 2009, the Supreme Court of India appointed a special team of investigators to look into the role Modi had played in the alleged anti-Muslim conspiracy.^[15] The team was appointed in response to the complaint of zakia Jafri, the widow of ex-Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, who was murdered in the riots.^[26] In December 2010, a Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) in its report to the Supreme Court seeking answers pertaining to the Ehsan Jafri case, submitted that they had found no evidence against Narendra Modi.^[27]

However in February 2011, the Times of India reported that a confidential report from the SIT indicted Modi on several counts of alleged complicity in the Gujarat riots of 2002.^[28] Most other sources have noted that the SIT report does not indict Modi for the riots due to lack of evidence.^[29][30] The Indian Express too said the report did not find any Modi involvement in the violence, though it did accuse him of watering down the seriousness of the situation.^[31] According to the Hindu, the report not only found that Modi tried to water down the seriousness of the situation, but Modi also implicitly justified the killings of Muslims, and failed to condemn the attacks on them.^[32] The Bharatiya Janata Party demanded an investigation into the publication of the report, claiming the leak was politically motivated.^[33]

The apex court refused to pass any order on the case and referred it to the Ahmedabad magistrate for a decision.^[34] In April 2012, a Special Investigation Team found absolved Modi of any involvement in the Gulberg massacre, arguably the worst episode of the riots.^[35]. On 7 May 2012, a Supreme Court-appointed amicus curiae, Raju Ramachandran observed that Modi can be prosecuted under sections 153 A (1) (a) & (b), 153 B (1), 166 and 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code for promoting enmity among different groups during the 2002 Gujarat riots.^[36]. However the amicus report has been criticised by the Special Investigation Team for relying heavily on the testimony of a perjurer^[37].

2007 elections[link]

Modi made a speech at Mangrol in which he justified the alleged fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, During the election campaign In response to Sonia Gandhi's speech calling him a "merchant of death",^[38] and referred to Sohrabuddin's killing. For this speech the Election Commission of India, a constitutional body governing election proceedings in India, cautioned Modi as it considered it as indulging in an activity which may aggravate existing differences between different communities.^[39] Modi won the election and continued his post as the Chief Minister Of Gujarat, he won with majority of votes of 122 seats out of 182 total assembly seats.^[40]

Conflicts with Governor Kamla Beniwal[link]

On 25 August 2011 Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal appointed Justice R A Mehta to the post of Lokyukta of Gujarat, a critical anti-corruption post that had been lying vacant since 2003. Justice R A Mehta was recommended for the post by the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court in June. Since Governor Beniwal had made this decision without consulting and getting the approval of the chief minister and his council of ministers, the action angered Narendra Modi and his BJP party.^[41]

This marked the beginning of a strained relationship between Modi and the Governor. On 25 September 2011, Narendra Modi accused the Governor of running a parallel government in the state supported by the Congress. He demanded that she be recalled back.^[42] He also later accused her of delaying the progress of bills by not passing them.

The decision of the governor in the appointment of R A Mehta was challenged in the high court by the Modi government. The two member high court bench gave a split verdict on 10 October 2011. Later, a third member upheld the governor's decision in January 2012.^[43]

Foreign visits[link]

As the Chief Minister of the Gujarat State, to attract foreign investment in the state, Narendra Modi has made visits to foreign countries, including China and Singapore.

Narendra Modi made his first China visit in 2007 to invite investors Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit,^[44] and second visit in November 2011. One month after the second visit to China, the Chinese Government released 13 Diamond traders from India jailed by the Shenzhen Customs, which the Chief Minister described as the consequece of his diplomatic efforts and statesmanship.^[45]

In 2005 Narendra Modi was denied of diplomatic visa to the United States, in addition to this visa denial, he was also revoked from his already granted B-1/B-2 visa.^[46]

Sadbhavna Mission[link]

In the late 2011-early 2012 Narandra Modi practised a series of fasts in the name of Sadbhavna Mission. The mission started on 17 September 2011 in Ahmedabad with 3 day fast with a view to strengthen the atmosphere of peace, unity and harmony in the state. He observed total 36 fasts in 26 districts, 8 cities including Ahmedabad.^[47]

Views and opinions[link]

Modi's position on terrorism[link]

On 18 July 2006 Modi delivered a speech criticising Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "for his reluctance to revive anti-terror legislations" like the Prevention of Terrorism Act. He asked the Centre to empower states to invoke tougher laws in the wake of the blasts in Mumbai.^[48] Quoting Modi:

Narendra Modi has frequently commented that if the BJP came to power at the Centre, they will honour the 2004 Supreme Court judgement to hang Afzal Guru.^[49] Afzal was convicted of terrorism in the 2001 Indian Parliament attack in 2004 by the Supreme Court of India and is in Tihar Jail.^[50]

On account of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, on Thursday 27 November, Narendra Modi held a meeting to discuss waterfront security along the coastline.^[51] The meeting decided to ask the Central government to urgently sanction the following:

• Increase the number of police stations along the coast to 50 (from 10)
• Increase the number of police to 1500 from 250
• 30 modern high-speed surveillance boats.

The 30 coastal boats, under construction at Goa's shipbuilding yard, will have the capacity to run at the speed of 25 nautical miles per hour. These are being manufactured under the Centre's Rs 58-crore grant for coastal security.^[51]

Views on criticism of Modi's governance[link]

In 2003, when Narendra Modi was asked about the conflict of his dreams for Gujarat's future with international criticism of his past activities, Modi said,^[52]

Modi's decision to link Gujarat's violence with the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US drew criticism from some observers, who contrasted it with the then Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's unpleasant apology for Gujarat in London a year ago.^[52] Modi responded to this criticism by The Guardian,^[52]

See also[link]

• Chief Minister
• Gujarat
• Bhartiya Janata Party

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Narendra Modi

Official

• @narendramodi Official & verified Twitter Account
• Narendra Modi Official website
• Narendra Modi Personal blog

Other

• Profile at BBC News

v t e Current Chief Ministers of Indian states (list)     Andhra Pradesh: Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy Arunachal Pradesh: Nabam Tuki Assam: Tarun Gogoi Bihar: Nitish Kumar Chhattisgarh: Raman Singh Goa: Manohar Parrikar Gujarat: Narendra Modi Haryana: Bhupinder Singh Hooda Himachal Pradesh: Prem Kumar Dhumal Jammu and Kashmir: Omar Abdullah Jharkhand: Arjun Munda Karnataka: D. V. Sadananda Gowda Kerala: Oommen Chandy Madhya Pradesh: Shivraj Singh Chauhan Maharashtra: Prithviraj Chavan Manipur: Okram Ibobi Singh Meghalaya: Mukul Sangma Mizoram: Pu Lalthanhawla Nagaland: Neiphiu Rio Orissa: Naveen Patnaik Punjab: Parkash Singh Badal Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot Sikkim: Pawan Kumar Chamling Tamil Nadu: Jayalalithaa Tripura: Manik Sarkar Uttar Pradesh: Akhilesh Yadav Uttarakhand: Vijay Bahuguna West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee Delhi: Sheila Dikshit Pondicherry: N. Rangaswamy

Hari Bansha Acharya (Nepali: हरिवंश आचार्य) is a Nepalese actor and a comedian. He is one of the most successful and respected comedians in the Nepalese entertainment industry. He is well known for his method acting. He is one of the comedy duo, "MaHa Jodi", the other one being Madan Krishna Shrestha. He also performs on stage most of the time with his partner, Madan Krishna Shrestha. He is one of the most successful comedians of all time.

Cinematography[link]

• Lovi Saasu
• FilimSALA
• Rajamati
• Silu
• Balidaan
• Je Bho Ramrai Bho
• Tan ta sarhai bigrish ni badri

He was actively associated with television since its early days in Nepal and has appeared in handful of comedy pieces. To mention a few his successful comedy pieces are:

• Lal Purja
• Pandra Gatey
• Bhakunde Bhoot
• Series of Hari Bahadur and Madan Bahadur
• 50/50
• Dashain

Hari Bansha Acharya is one of the most noted comedians in the Nepali entertainment industry. He has been involved in the comedy scene with his partner Madan Krishna Shrestha and the duo is popular with the title “Maha-Jodi”.

His father’s name is Homanjaya Acharya and Mother’s name is Ganesh Kumari. Born on 27th Kartik 2014 BS (9 October 1958) in Gairidhara, Kathmandu, Hari Bansha Acharya got married married with Meera Acharya in 2040 BS. He has two sons Trilok Acharya and Mohit Acharya.Hari Bansha's wife^[1] Meera Acharya died from a stroke on April 20, 2011. She was suffering from heart disease since long.

Hari Bansha started his career by performing with Hari Prasad Rimal and Jitendra Mahat Avilashi in 2031 BS in Radio Nepal. Back then, Radio Nepal was the only radio station in Nepal. In 2032, Hari Bansha Acharya joined Rastriya Naach Ghar. He had participated in Gaijatra Mahotsav in 2034 BS that upsurged his fame. Before performing with Madan Krishna Shrestha and becoming a part of the MAHA Jodi, he had struggled in the entertainment field alone for 6 years.

Hari Bansha Acharya has also played in films. Lovipapi, Filim, Rajamati, Silu, Balidaan, Je Bho Ramrai bho, Tan ta sarhai bigrish ni badri are some of his popular films that were immensely popular in the Nepali film industry. Some of his remarkable comedy series like Lal Purja, Pandra Gatay, Bhakunde Bhoot, Series of Hari Bahadur and Madan Bahadur, 50/50, Dashain ko Chyangra etc. will be cherished by Nepalese even after many years.

Hari Bansha Acharya and his comedy duo are active in social life and were very much noted for their effort in April Uprsing in Nepal, which dethroend the then Monarchy. The duo were touted for Presidentship by some sphere of Nepalese population.

Theater Program[link]

1. Yamlok
2. Paralysis
3. Anshabandha
4. Cockfight
5. Raddi Tokari
6. Sapath Grahan
7. Aina
8. Bigyapan (Record breaking drama in Nepal)
9. London Airport
10. Woda Number 34
11. Rastriya Gaun Khane Katha Pratiyogita
12. Shraddh
13. Picnic
14. Abhibhawak
15. Sangeet
16. Remote Control
17. Nepal Bandha
18. Wrong Number
19. Prasna Uttar
20. Dohori Geet
21. Geetai Geet
22. Kaukuti
23. Nata
24. "205"
25. Bose Aandrai Bhundiko
26. Hoste Hainse
27. Saalik (The Statue) 2000
28. MaHa Dohari 2003
29. Dwitiya Raastriya Gaaun Khaane Pratiyogita 2004, etc.
30. Abhinandan
31. Remix Shraddh
32. Maha Dohari-2^[2]

TV Program[link]

1. Fifty- Fifty (Produced for NTV)
2. Santati (Produced for Reukai)
3. 216777 (Produced for NTV)
4. Bhakunde Bhoot (Produced for NTV)
5. Pandra Gate (Produced for NTV)
6. Dashain (Produced for NTV)
7. Chiranjivi (Produced for JICA)
8. Raat (Produced for UNDP)
9. Banpale (Produced for King Mahendra Natural Conservation Trust)
10. Sur Besur (Produced for MaHa Sanchar)
11. Ohho! (Produced for BBC and HMG/Nepal)
12. Kantipur (Produced for Kathmandu Metropolitan City)
13. Rajmarg (Produced for Community Health Program)
14. Pani (Produced for Nepal Jaycees)
15. Kalajar (Produced for CECI)
16. Ashal Logne (Produced for NFHP)
17. Laxmi (Produced for Nepal Rastra Bank)
18. Laal Purja (Produced for MaHa Sanchar)
19. Tike ko Tin Mantra ( About condom)
20. Shristee (Produced for Plan Nepal)
21. Jalpareee (Produced for ENFO)
22. Virus (Produced for FNCCI)
23. MaHa Chautari (About different conflicts of Nepal)
24. Left right left(Produced for FHI)
25. Madan bahadur Hari bahadur( Produced by Maha sanchar)(program on informing pelpe about the constituenal assembly )^[2]

Radio Program[link]

1. Vitamin A Program
2. Girls Education - GTZ
3. Leprosy - BBC
4. Chhu Mantar - BBS
5. Mechi Mahakali Express - BBC
6. Rukh Baaje Suga Nati - UNICEF
7. MaHa Adala / MaHa Chautari in coordination with Antenna Nepal^[2]

Publication[link]

1. Mahasan—published by Sajha Prakashan
2. Neparujinno Kurasito Seuji (Social and Political Life of Nepal)^[2]

Documentary[link]

1. NHK of Japan prepared documentary film on MaHa.^[2]

Position Held[link]

1. Ambassdor, UN World Food Program Nepal
2. Chairman, Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre
3. Founder,Jana Andolan Health Relief Fund(Established during 2nd Peoples Movement in 2062-2063 BS)
4. Executive Director,MaHa Sanchar,kathmandu
5. Vice President,Kathmandu Model Hospital(PHECT)
6. Honorary Life Member,Nepal Association of Victoria Sydney,Australia(20-6-1998)
7. Honorary Member,Nepal Film Artist National Association
8. Founder Board Member,Tilganga Eye Centre,Kathmandu
9. Board Member, Spinal Injury Organisation,Kathmandu
10. Board Member,CampionAssociates,Kathmandu
11. Member, Rotary club of Tripureshwor,Kathmandu
12. Member, Nepal Russia Friendship Sociaty, Kathmandu
13. Member, Nepal Music Association,Kathmandu^[2]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Hari Bansha Acharya, Dhaka Topi Nepali Music Collection
• HariBansha Photos

Srikanto Acharya is a Kolkata-based modern Bengali singer-songwriter and music director.

Early life[link]

Srikanto was born in Kolkata, India and is son of Rohini Nandan Acharya and Kana Acharya. He got formal training in music from Dakshinee. He also got trained in tabla from Ustad Ali Ahmed Khan. He quit his job as a sales professional and then Utpal Chakravarty, proprietor of an old music store convinced him to drop in his cassettes at Sagarika Music. He got a call from them within a week and they offered him a contract to sing for them.^[1]

Awards[link]

• Anandalok Award - ---------------Best Male Playback Singer for Amar Bhuban in 2004
• Bengal Film Journalists' Association - Best Male Playback Award for Titli in 2003
• Outstanding Young Person's Award for his achievements in Music awarded by the North Calcutta Junior Chamber ^[2]

Discography[link]

Basic Albums

• Ami Noi
• Ghuri (Anandabazar Best Puja Album of the year 2004)
• Jibon Chhobi (Best Rabindrasangeet Music Award 2004)
• Yeh Chahat (Hindi)
• Nodir Chhobi Anki (Anandabazar Best Album of the year 2001)
• Bristi Tomake Dilam (Anandabazar Best Puja Album of the year 2000)
• Nil Dhribotara
• Kono Ekdin
• Nivrito Praner Debota
• Kachhei Achhi
• Hridoy Aamar
• Roudrochhaya
• Anubhobe Jenechhilem
• Smritir Soroni
• Apon Gaan
• Sanj Sakaler Robi
• Moner Janala
• Uttoron

Albums (Collaborative)

• Ganbela (with Lopamudra Mitra)
• Pather Saathi (with Rajeeb Chakraborty) (Highest Selling Bengali Album of the year 2003) ^[3]

As Playback Singer

• Iti Mrinalini (2011)
• Noukadubi (2011)
• Bangal Ghoti Phataphati (Unreleased) (2009)
• Tomar Jonyo (2008)
• Antarotamo (2008)
• Mon Amour: Shesher Kobita Revisited (2008)
• Chalo Let's Go (2008)
• Khela (2008)
• Titli (2001)

As Music Director

• Krishnakanter Will

References[link]

 4. Minakshi Banerjee

External links[link]

• Rhythm & melody divine
• Srikanto Acharya at the Internet Movie Database

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